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BIG PHYSICS, BIG QUESTIONS –

Space station science program begins

By Will Knight

NASA is billing the launch of space shuttle Discovery as the start of a mission dedicated to scientific research, but others say that the outpost’s studies will be limited.

The 11th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, Discovery will carry seven astronauts as well as a module filled with supplies and experiments called Leonardo. Three of the shuttle’s crew will remain on the ISS, replacing the station’s current team.

NASA says that the focus of the astronauts who stay aboard the ISS will be scientific research, as well as basic maintenance. Discovery will bring 40 new experiments to the ISS.

However, critics say that scientific research aboard the station could be severely limited by the station’s relatively small crew. Keith Cowing, editor of NASAwatch.com, told New Scientist&colon; “The station could be doing a lot of science, but it is not. I think the astronauts will be able to perform no more than a few hours research a week.”

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Cowing suggests that the three astronauts aboard the ISS will be almost entirely occupied by routine engineering work during their stay. He also claims that the station’s overall scientific objectives have narrowed since its conception. The station crew is unlikely to increase soon because NASA ditched plans for a seven-man escape capsule in 2000.

Research aboard the ISS is further threatened by proposed budget cuts. Following an overrun of &dollar;4.8bn, NASA recently said that it will cut money for research at the outpost by &dollar;1bn.

Remote control

Scientists on the ground defend the station’s experiments. Oliver Minster, head of the ISS Utilisation and Microgravity Department at the European Space Agency points out that many experiments can be monitored remotely and claims that the ISS already produces as much valuable research information as many research institutes on Earth.

“For the time being the priority is to build the space station,” he says. “But by 2004, we expect a major increment in research.”

When complete, the ISS should house six laboratory modules and carry out hundreds of experiments. It would be the most advanced research facility ever placed in orbit, but Cowing says that this future is uncertain given the budget announcement. “Clearly all the money NASA wants isn’t going to be there,” he says.

Crystal clear

Discovery was given the all-clear for take-off on Thursday following inspection of suspect hydraulic power units on the shuttle’s solid rocket booster.

The new experiments to be taken to the ISS include a project to grow ovarian cancer cells in microgravity in order to gain insight into the way these cells harm the human body. Protein crystals will also be grown. Other projects include a bioreactor to study cell interactions and an experiment to look at how paints, milk and ink blobs behave in space.

A new high-definition camera is due to arrive during the next crew’s stay. This will provide high-resolution images of the astronaut’s activity for NASA and a commercial partner.